The Ivy Leaf food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dartford
The Ivy Leaf holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 18 February 2025, 16 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 72 Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1LS
How it compares in Dartford
A 2 is rare: only 17 of 923 rated places in Dartford score this low, about one in 54. By contrast 77% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 713 | 77% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 131 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 53 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 2% | ← The Ivy Leaf | |
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 153 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Ivy Leaf the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Ivy Leaf, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amar Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 282 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Afro Veg N More (Greengrocers) Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 December 2023 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Bargain Buys Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2025 |
| Club Room Cafe @ David Lloyd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2025 |
| Bobo & Cha Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2025 |
| Cafeology @ Fairfield Leisure Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2024 |
Questions about The Ivy Leaf
What is The Ivy Leaf's food hygiene rating?
The Ivy Leaf has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Dartford Council on 18 February 2025.
Is The Ivy Leaf safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Ivy Leaf last inspected?
The Ivy Leaf was last inspected on 18 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dartford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ivy Leaf?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Ivy Leaf compare to other places in Dartford?
77% of the 923 rated food businesses in Dartford hold the top rating of 5, while The Ivy Leaf holds a 2. 17 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Dartford Council inspects The Ivy Leaf and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Ivy Leaf and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Dartford, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Dartford
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dartford inspects and rates 1,076 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dartford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dartford.gov.uk/foodsafety/index.htm
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →